On my way to work this morning, listening to Metro Morning on the CBC, I heard Andy Barrie in a very brief interview with poet and novelist Anne Michaels. Her first--I think so far only-- novel, Fugitive Pieces,
has been made into a movie. It will open tonight at the Toronto Film Festival.
Fugitive Pieces is the most beautifully written novel I have ever read. Deirdre Swain, reviewing the film in NOW Magazine, not unlike some of my classmates some years back at McMaster University, finds the novel 'dense but gorgeous'. According to her, the movie retains the beauty while cutting out some of the bulk. Anne Michaels is, above all, a poet. Her novel reflects that. It contains the most beautiful, most poetic prose I have ever encountered in a novel. Rushdie's writing comes close, but is often more surreal. Ondaatje's also comes close, though it has a more classical tone.
I am so excited! I wish I could make it to the opening night, but alas I cannot. I will have to wait a bit. I really do hope the movie does the story justice. So often a really good book ends up a mediocre film. Anne
Michaels, on that interview this morning, sounded positive about it. If she's positive, it being her baby, I think we can relax a bit. And then of course there are reviewers...
Here's the review on NOW.
